Blue Hose drop season opener at Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, TENN. – Tennessee used a strong first half to open the 2017-18 season with an 88-53 win over the Presbyterian College men’s basketball team Friday night at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn. Davon Bell led the Blue Hose with a career-high 20 points, with Francois Lewis making his PC debut with 10 points. Both finished with a team-leading five rebounds apiece.

Stat of the Game

Turnovers were key in Tennessee’s early success over PC, as the Blue Hose committed 13 in the first half, resulting in 20 points for the Vols. A much different second half, PC lost the ball just six times, compared to eight for the Vols. After hitting just two three-pointers in the first half, PC collected six in the second to finish with the 8-7 advantage over UT. The Vols led the board battle, 39-28, and shot 56.9 from the field, to PC’s 36.0. The Blue Hose went nine-for-14 from the charity stripe, to UT’s 15-of-23.

Blue Hose Player of the Game

Davon Bell led the team on the floor with his 20 points, two three-pointers, five rebounds, and three assists. Francois Lewis came away with 10 points and five boards. Admiral Schofield led Tennessee with 22 points, with Grant Williams handling the rebounds with seven.

How It Happened

Davon Bell scored the game’s opening basket, with a jumper at 18:26, but that would be the last for PC the next 10 minutes as Tennessee score the next 28 to build a 28-2 lead. J.C. Younger snapped the drought with a lay-up at 8:41, with the Blue Hose scoring 10 more over the next six and half minutes, which included back to back three-pointers from Younger and Francois Lewis, to reach double-figures, 14-41, 2:11 on the clock. The Volunteers ended the half with five unanswered to go into the locker room with the 46-14 lead.

A little more back and forth battle in the second half, PC put up 39 points, which included a 14-5 run from the six minute mark to the three. Highlighting the run was Bell with seven of those points. PC would score the final 18 of the game’s 30 points, capped by a three-pointer from Ethan Kay, but it was Tennessee at the end with the 88-53 win.

Notables

Davon Bell recorded a career-high 20 points.

Davon Bell’s six free throws tied his career-high, his 10 attempts a career-best.

For the Record

PC opens the season 0-1, while Tennessee improves to 1-0.

Up Next

A quick turnaround for PC, the Blue Hose open the home season Saturday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m., against Johnson.